OBLINGER-BILLMAN STORE IN LEWISVILLE, OHIO

 

 

History of Oblinger-Billman Store

By Grace Billman Stallings (deceased)

of Westerville, OH

 

After reading the article on the stores in Lewisville, which I was glad to get, I thought you might like to hear about another store. 

The Oblinger Store was first owned by Mr. Packenburg, who sold to Frank and Charles Oblinger.  Clem, another brother, bought Frank's share.  Later Charles became sole owner, around Sept. 1, 1877. The old ledgers which were the charge account books, that I have, start back to Oct. 2, 1863, and it shows It changed hands about that date. I have all four of the old, thick, leather bound ledgers.  The two-story front of the store was shipped from Germany. 

Oblinger sold one third interest in the store to Marion Robinson, whose wife was Eunice Feiock and one third interest to F.R. Billman. In July 1918 Mr. Robinson sold his interest to Billman, since he entered the war.

F.R. Billman had worked in the oil field for five years before starting to work for Mr. Oblinger on Aug. 18, 1907. He had married Ollie Fisher on May 29, 1907. They had one daughter.

Mr. Oblinger's store was a general store and he also bought tobacco, and had packing houses, one of which is still standing across the street from the former Egger's Hardware Store. It was later sold to Mr. Egger. Before the new high school was built, the boys played basketball games here, using gas stoves to heat the building.

In those days people would deal at the store, using tobacco and other goods as their payment.  Billman bought chickens and turkeys as did the Feiock's store.  Two weeks before Thanksgiving and Christmas were big days for the farmers who would bring their turkeys to the store, which were picked up by a wholesale company in Pittsburgh.

Mr. Oblinger made his home with Mr. and Mrs. Fred Bott who lived in the big palatial house which he built next to the store. Mr. Oblinger was born May 19, 1848 and died Dec. 10, 1920.

Mr. Billman bought the store in Jan., 1921.  He had several different clerks, but John Billman, his father, and Clayton English worked the longest.  English worked for 24 years before going with Nationwide Insurance.

F. R., as he was known, had to retire because of failing health and sold to George Radon who took over June 1, 1953. F. R. passed away Nov. 22, 1953.

The store burned down Sept: 7, 1956. I'm so glad Dad didn't live to see it burn, as it was hard enough on my mother.

 

 

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